Fluid pressure controller device



E. G. M CAULEY 2,082,410

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROLLER DEVICE Julie 1, 1937. v

Original Filed Jan. 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1, 1937. E. G. M CAULEY FLUID PRESSURE CONTROLLER DEVICE 0riginal Filed Jan; 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1, 1937 2,082,410 FLUID PRESSURE CONTROLLER DEVICE Ernest G. McCauley, Dayton, Ohio Original application January 31, 1928, Serial No.

250,919, now Patent No. 1,860,510, dated May 31, 1932. Divided and this application January 16, 1932, Serial No. 587,123. Renewed April 26 Claims. (01. 123-144) This invention relates generally to a fluid pressure operated mechanism and especially to controlling means therefor; More particularly this invention relates to a controller for use in connection with fluid pressure operated devices and constituting a unit in fluid pressure systems,

This application is a divisional application of my co-pending application Serial No. 250,919, flied January 31, 1928, now Patent No. 1,860,510

issued May 31, 1932.

This invention has for one of its objects the provision of a controller device having means for independently orsimultaneously actuating spaced fluid pressure operated devices and valve means operated by said first-mentioned means for regulating the supply of fluid to working chambers of said fluid pressure operated devices.

A further object of my invention is to provide a unitary control device of this character in which a universal control lever is adapted to control the operation of separate fluid pressure operated devices either simultaneously or independently of one another and to regulate the fluid pressure to said pressure operated devices. A further object of my invention is to provide in a unitary control device of this character, a unit mounting for a universal control lever that is capable of being moved fore-and-aft, laterally in either direction, or any combinationof these movements, and for suitable connections associated with said lever for converting these movements to other devices.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel combination of universal control lever and frictional means for retaining or holding the lever in any position within its range of operation, and for consequently holding the devices connected to the control lever and operated thereby against undesired movement.

A still further object of my invention is to prowith said lever for retaining the valve means in.

open position during the universal movement of said lever.

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of an airplane with my invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional side elevation view of the hand controller or control lever unit for the control units shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the view shown in Fig.

Fig. 4 is a partial end elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the application of my invention in the control system for an airplane with parts of a control unit broken away Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l-1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the operating valve device shown in Fig. 7.

Similar reference characters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

This type of fluid pressure mechanism may be applied to operate various devices; for illustration I I have shown it installed in an airplane to provide a power control for controlling the ailerons and elevators, while it can also be applied to operate the rudder, stabilizer, retractab1e1and-*- another, which controller comprises in accord-- ance with this invention a single manually operable member adapted to effect the supply of fluid pressure to and its release from the working chambers of the power control units.

My invention is shown, by way of example, as'

installed in an airplane l0 for use as a supplementary control to the regular manual'con trol installation, for operating and controlling the ailerons and elevators of the airplane, the ailerons l2 and the elevators it being connected to the control stick It, as shown in Fig. 1, in' the usual and well-known manner. The fluid pres-' suresystem, as shown in Fig. 1, consists of an air compressor l8 for forming the fluid pressure source, connected-to a storage tank 20, which' in turn is connected to a controller or control lever unit 22 for operating thecontrol units 24 and 26, which are also connected to the ailerons l2 and elevators M respectively, all in a manner substantially as shown and described in my abovereferred-to application.

The controller or control lever unit 22, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is operatively connected to an operating valve device that is associated with each of the power control units, and comprises .a universal swiveling lever'28 and a fluid pressure supply valve 30 operated by said swivel- I ing lever.

The two power control units 24 and 26 are operated by the single control lever 28, as will be hereing necessary whereby the control lever may be moved forward or backward from a vertical normal position, also sidewise in either direction, or any possible combination thereof.

The control lever 28 is pivoted by shoulder screws 32 at its lower end to a shaft member 34 mounted in bearings 36 on a bracket 88. This bracket is provided with openings 40 to receive bolts and nuts for purposes of mounting. This bracket is further provided with an extension 42 having a boss 44 to form a bearing for a secondary shaft 46. Integrally formed on one end of the shaft 46 is a lug 48 which is pivotally connected to a universal clevis 50, which in turn is pivotally connected by clevis pin 52 to link 54 that is pivotally attached to the control lever 28 at point 56 on same by shoulder screws 58. At the opposite end of the shaft 46 is mounted a lever 60 and rigidly fixed thereto by a bolt and nut connection 62 passing through the bearing portion 64 of the lever 60 and the shaft 46.

Mounted at the outer end of the shaft 34 is a lever arm 66 that is connected rigidly to the shaft 34 by bolt and nut connection 68. It will now be apparent that in moving the control lever 28 forward or backward from a normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lever arm 60 is simultaneously rotated in the bearing 44 through link 54, universal clevis 50 and shaft 46. Also moving the control lever laterally in either direction'will cause a rocking of the shaft 34 and 9. correspond-. ing movement of the lever'arm 66. With this construction any movement of the control lever 28 in a direction other than backward or forward, or in a lateral direction at right angles to the backward and forward movement will effect a movement of both the levers 60 and 66, thus providing a control lever having a universal swiveling action to actuate the levers simultaneously or independently of one another.

The casing of the fluid pressure supply valve 30 is preferably made integral with the bracket 38 and is positioned directly beneath the control lever 28. Provided within this casing is a central longitudinal bore of different diameters to receive a balanced valve member that is retained in yielding position at the lower end of the casing or body by means of a coil spring I0 and flangenut I2. The valve member is pro- 60 vided with a tapered head I'4 that bears or seats against a bushing I6 and is balanced by providing at its lower end a piston member I8 that slides in bushing 80. The valve member has extending upwardly beyond the tapered head I6 a valve stem 82 and slidably attached thereon is a spherical seat member 84. I

Passing through the control lever 28 is a rod 96 provided at its lower end with a collar 88 having a frictional end surface of generally spherical shape that is frictionally held against the seat by means of a coil spring 90 mounted between the seat member 84 and a. bushing 92 that is threaded into the valve body or casing 30 for retaining the packing 94 about the valve stem 02.-

The rod 96 is slidably mounted within the tubuinafter described, a universal swiveling action belar column 98 of the lever 28 and isretained in position by means of a pin I00 fixed to the rod 96. Said pin is received within an L-shaped slot I02 formed in the column 98. Threaded onto the upper end of the rod 96 is a knob I04 and held by pin I06 which forms a handle for the control lever 28. The knob is provided with a bored portion I08 to slidably receive the upper end of the column 98 and is of sufficient depth to permit a downward as well as rotary movement of the rod 96. By pressing on the knob I04 and rotating the same within the base the rod will be latched in its downward position. It will thus be seen that regardless of the position of the control lever the spherical collar 88 will constantly and frictionally engage the seat member 84 likewise any downward pressure on the knob will force the valve member down and away from the seat of the bushing I6 thereby opening supply valve to permit the fluid pressure to enter the opening I I0 at the lower side of the valve seat and pass through the opening I I2 at the upper side of the valve seat, and balancing the valve member by the pressure against the piston member I8.

The ailerons I2 and elevators I4 are connected to the manual control stick I6 through cables in the usual and well-known manner, as described in my above-referred-to co-pending application, The fluid pressure control unit 24 for the ailerons is suitably mounted within the fuselage and is operatively connected to the usual aileron shaft II4 by means of the conventional rocker arm H6 and links (not shown).

The control unit 26 is likewise suitably mounted within the fuselage and is operatively connected to the usual elevator shaft II8 through the conventional rocker arm I20 and link I22.

The controller or control lever unit 22 is operatively connected to each of the operating valve devices I24 of control units 24 and 26, the operating valve device of control 24 being connected to the controller by a rod I24 that is' attached at its opposite ends to levers 66 and I26, the operating valve device of control unit 26 being connected to the controller by cables I28 and I30 passing over suitable pulley and attached at their ends to the levers 60 and I32, as best shown in Fig. 5. Fluid pressure from the tank 20 is supplied to the control units by means of a fluid pressure pipe I34. This pipe is threaded into the opening H2 in the valve casing 30 and likewise connected to the openings I36 and I 38 of the fluid pressure control units 24 and 26 respectively.

The control units 24 and 26 are identical in construction, and are sufliciently described in my above-referred-to eo-pending application, and therefore, it will suflice for purposes of clearness to describe but one of these, and only so much thereof as will suflice for an understanding of its cooperation with the controller.

The control'unit 26, as shown in Fig. 5, consists of, a casing I40 containing a working cylinder I42 and a locking cylinder (not shown), both cylinders being controlled by the operating valve device I24, but inasmuch as the locking cylinder and as much of the operating valve device as cooperates with the locking cylinder is not necessary for a clear understanding of this invention, description of the control unit will be limited to the-working cylinder and its cooperating parts. The working cylinder I42 is' provided with a piston I44 having piston rings I46 for the usual purpose of .haw'ng the piston fit cylinder closely and prevent leakage from one side to the other. The piston is provided with a control' bore to receive connecting rods I48 and I50 that are in alignment and joined together by a-tap and thread connection (not shown) These piston rods I48 and I50 extend respectively through the cylinder heads I62 and I64, which are threaded into the casing I42, suitable packing and gland nuts being provided around the piston rods to prevent leakage.

The outwardly projecting ends of rods I48 and I50 are connected by yokes I56 and I58 respectively. The yoke I58 at its upper end is provided with an extension I60 which is pivotally connected to a lever I62 by a link I64.

The yokes I55 and I58 are also respectively fixed to the ends of rods I66 and I68 of a piston (not shown) by means of nuts. This cooperates with the piston of the working chamber or cylinder to lock the same in the manner described in my above-referred-to application.

As shown in Fig. 6 the control valve casing is provided with a cylinder at right angles to the working cylinder I42 and locking cylinder I10 and interposed between them to receive the operating valve device I24. This operating valve device comprises an outer valve member I12 and inner valve member I14. The outer valve member is rotatably mounted within the cylinder and is held in place by means of a coil spring I 16 seated about a reduced portion I18 thereof and is retained in the pocket formed in a flanged nut I80. The reduced portion is squared at its end shoulder to receive the lever I82 which is fixed to the valve I12 by means or a nut I82.

The inner-valve I14 is provided at its inner end with a tapered .portion to form a tapered flt with the valve I12. To the outer end of this valve I14 the lever I62 is flxed by means of a square shoulder and clamping nut I84.

As shown in Fig. '1, the outer valve member I 12 is provided with an opening I86 that registers with an inlet opening I88 in the inner valve member I14. The opening I08 is at right-angles to, and connected with openings I90 and I92 that permits the flow of fluid pressure when in an opened positionthrough the openings I94 and I96 respectively. An exhaust opening I98 likewise registers with openings I94 and I96 to relieve the flow of fluid "pressure as will be hereinafter described. Y

The inner and outer members, as shown-in Fig. '7, are in closed position and it will be seen that when the outer member is rotated, as shown in Fig. 8, the opening I90 is uncovered toregister with the opening I94 allowing the fluid pressure to enter through the opening 200 from the source of supply to a passage 202 that leads into thecylinder chamber I42, on one side of the piston I44. At the same time the fluid pressure on the opposite side of thepiston is relieved by the exhaust port I98 on the inner valve member, registering with opening I96 on valve I12 and passage leads 204 from the cylinder 2.. The exhaust opening I98 is formed by cutting a recess in the outer surface of the inner valve member I14, as shown in'Fi'g. 6. The inner valve member is also provided with a hole 206 that connects the exhaust opening I98 to the atmosphere through opening the passage 202 and the opening I94 and exhaust port I98 as before described.

The operation of .the operating valve device is as follows: When the lever arm I 32 attached to valve member I12 is at right angles to the lever arm I62 attached to valve member I14, the operating device is closed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7,

v and no pressure is admitted to either side of the piston I44. In moving the lever arm I32 in a counter-clockwise direction to actuate the outer member I12, the port openings I and I94 will I44 by a. link I64 and yoke I58, any movement of the piston I44 will in turn move the lever arm I62 on the inner valve member in the same direction as the piston until both lever arms I32 and I62 are again at right angles to each other. This likewise closes off the supply of fluid pressure to the cylinder and also holds the piston against movement at no matter what point of travel this may occur, depending entirely on the amount of movement. of the lever arm I32.

Thus any movement of the control lever 28, which simultaneously or independently operates the control units 24 and 26 and which controls the supply of fluid pressure through valve 30 to the cylinder I42, will simultaneously or independently cause a movement of the working piston of each control unit, which in turn will operate the ailerons and elevators either simultaneously or independently of one another. It will thus also be seen that movement of the working piston of either of the control units in either direction is proportionate and in synchronous relation with the movement of the control lever 28.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is: 1

1. A controller device for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two independent, valve controlled working chambers comprising, valve means for controlling the supply of fluid to'the valves of said chambers, a support for said valve means, and means carried by said support for operating said working chamber valves simultaneously or independently of one another and for operating said valve means independently of said chamber valves.

2. A controller device adapted for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two independent, valve controlled Working chambers comprising, valve means for controlling a supply of fluid to the valves of said chambers, a support for said valve means, and a single manually operable member carried by said support and associated with said valve means foroperating said working chamber valves'simultaneously or independently of one another.

3. A controller device adapted for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two independent, valve controlledworking chambers comprising, an inlet valve for varying the supply of fluid pressure to said chambers, a support for said inlet valve and a universal means including a manual member for operating said working chamber valves simultaneously or independently of one another by one movement and said inlet valve by a different movement.

4. A controller device for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two independent, valve controlled working chambers comprising, valve means for controlling a supply of fluid to the valves of said chambers, a support for said valve means, a single manually operable member carried by said support and associated with said valve means for operating said working chamber valves simultaneously or inlet and outlet conduits in communication with said inlet valve, a single manual means for operating said working chamber valves simultaneously 7 or independently of one another and said inlet valve independent of said working chamber valves and friction means between said inlet valve and said manual means for yieldingly retaining said manual means in any rocked position.

6. A mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two working chambers comprising, a fluid supply inlet valve through which pressure is supplied to said chambers, a further valve in communication with said first-mentioned valve and associated with each chamber for controlling the communication of the fluid pressure supply thereto, and a single manually operable means for operating said communication control. valves simultaneously or independently of one another and for operating the fluid supply inlet valve.

7. A mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two working chambers comprising, a fluid supply inlet valve through which pressure is supplied to said chambers, a further valve in communication with said first-mentioned valve and associated with each chamber for controlling the communication of the fluid pressure supply thereto, and a single manually operable means for operating said communication control valves simultaneously or independently of one another and for operating the fluid supply inlet valve, said manually operable means comprising two control levers movable together about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another, one of said levers being movable relative to the other along an axis at right angles to the above said axes to actuate said inlet valve independently of said working chamber valves.

8. A mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure from a 'source of supply to at least two working chambers comprising, a fluid supply inlet valve through which pressure is supplied to said chambers, a further valve in communication with said first-mentioned valve and associated with each chamber for controlling the communication of the fluid pressure supply thereto, and a single manually operable means for operating said communication control valves simulsaid levers for locking said inlet lever in an op-- erative position thereof.

9. A controller unit adapted for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two working chambers comprising, a support for an inlet valve provided with a valve seat, a valve stem seated against said valve seat, a universally mounted lever carried by said support, for separately controlling said working chambers and a lever carried by said first-mentioned lever and operable independently thereof for controlling said inlet valve in any position of said first lever.

10. A controller unit adapted for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to at least two valve controlled working chambers comprising, a support for an inlet-valve provided with a valve seat, a valve stem seated against said seat, a universally mounted lever carried by said support for controlling said working chambers, and an inlet valve operating member movable with said lever but capable of relative sliding motion with respect thereto for operating said inlet valve independently of said working chamber valves.

universally mounted lever carried by said support for controlling the fluid supply to said chambers, and a valve operating member movable with said lever but capable of relative sliding motion with respect thereto for operating said inlet valve in any position of said universal lever and independently of the operation of the latter lever.

12. A control mechanism, comprising in combination, a support, control means, universal means interconnecting said support and said control means, valve means operated by a relative movement of said control means and said universal means, means between said valve means and said control means to permit tilting of said control means without actuating said valve means and torretaining the same in any tilted position of the latter, and further means between the universal means and said control means for maintaining the latter in its valve operated position.

13. The combination with a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted so that it can move independently of said first lever along a third axis at right angles to said first axes, of means cooperating with said levers respectively for fixing the same in every operative position thereof.

14. The combination with a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted so that it can move independ- 'ently of said first lever along a third axis at right angles to said first axes, of means between said levers for locking said second mentioned lever in operated position.

15. The combination with a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted-so that it can move independently of said first lever along a third axis at right angles to said first axes, of yieldable engaging means for fixing saidfirst-mentioned lever in any moved position thereof and mounted so as to be responsive to an operative movement of said second-mentioned lever, said engaging means and said latter lever being relatively dis- (ill placeable to permit operative movement of said first-mentioned lever irrespective of the operativc movement of the second-mentioned lever.

16. The combination with a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted so that it can move independently of said first lever along a third axis at right angles to said firstaxes, of spring actuated friction engaging means for fixing said first-mentioned lever in any moved position thereof and mounted so as to be responsive to an operative movement of said second-mentioned lever, said engaging means and said latter lever being relatively displaceable to permit operative movement of said first-mentioned lever irrespective of the operative movement of the second-mentioned lever.

1'7. In combination a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted so that it can move independently of said first lever along a third axis at right angles to said first axes, valve means adapted to be actuated by a linear movement of said secondmentioned lever and means between said valve means and said second-mentioned lever for slidable and yieldable engagement with said latter lever whereby said first-mentioned lever may be rocked about its axes ineveryoperative position 01 said second-mentioned lever. I 7

18. In combination a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted so that'it can move independently of said first lever along a third axis at right angles to said first axes, valve means adapted to be actuated by a linear movement of said second-mentioned lever and a friction element disposed between said valve and one end of said second-mentioned lever and spring means for eifecting a yieldable engagement between said friction element and the end of said lever.

19. In combination a control lever mounted so that it can rock about either and both of two axes at right angles to one another and a further control lever carried by said first lever and mounted so' that it can move independently of said first leven'along a third axis at right angles to said first axes, valve means adapted to be actuated by linear movement of said secondmentioned lever and a friction element having a concave special surface disposed'between said valve and one end of said lever and spring means for effecting a yieldable engagement between said friction element and the end of said lever.

20. A control unit adapted for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to a valve controlled working chamber comprising a support ior an inlet valve provided with a valve seat, a valve stem seated against said valve seat, a universally mounted lever carried by said support [or controlling said working chamber valve, and a lever carried b said first-mentioned lever and operable independently thereof for controlling said inlet valve in any operative position.

of said first-mentioned lever.

21. A control device for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to a working chamber comprising, in combination, a fluid supply inlet valve, a valve for said chamber, and a manual control means comprisinga pivoted lever for actuating said working chamber valve and a lever movable with said pivoted lever but operable independently thereof for actuating said supply-valve.

22. A control device for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to a working chamber comprising, in combination, a fluid supply inlet valve, a valve for said chamber, a manual control means comprising a pivoted lever for actuating said working chamber valve and a lever movable with said pivoted lever but operable independently thereof for actuating said supply valve, and means interposed between said'inlet valve and its corresponding lever to permit operation of one lever independently of the other and vice versa. 1

23. A control device for controlling the fluid pressure from a source of supply to a working chamber comprising, in combination, a fluid sup ply inlet valve, a valve for said working chamber, a manual control means for actuating said valves, said control means comprising two levers movable together and one independent of the other and being so constructed and arranged that each lever is capable of operating its corresponding valve independently of the other in operative or inoperative position of said valves.

'24. A control device for controlling the fluid supply from a source of supply to a plurality of working chambers comprising, in combination, a fluid supply inlet valve, a valve for each of said chambers, and a manual control means comprising a pivoted lever movable to different positions for actuating said working chamber valves and a lever movable with but operable independently of said pivoted lever for actuating said supply valve in any position thereof.

25. A control device for controlling the fluid supply froma source of supply to a working chamber comprising, in combination, a fluid supply inlet valve, a valve for said chamber, a manual control means comprising a pivoted lever for actuating said working chamber valve and a lever movable with said pivoted lever for actuating said supply valve, and means interposed between said inlet valve and itscorresponding lever adapted for relative displaceable operative connection between said supply valve and its corresponding lever.

26. A control device for controlling the fluid 

